2020 Ram 1500 Service

368 STARTING AND OPERATING
Front Park Assist Audible Alerts
ParkSense will turn off the Front Park Assist audible alert
(chime) after approximately three seconds when an obstacle
has been detected, the vehicle is stationary, and brake pedal
is applied.
Adjustable Chime Volume Settings
The Front and Rear chime volume settings are program-
mable.
• The settings may be programmed through the Uconnect System. Refer to “Uconnect Settings ” in “Multimedia” for
further information.
Enabling And Disabling Front And/Or Rear ParkSense
Front ParkSense can be enabled and disabled with the Front
ParkSense switch.
Rear ParkSense can be enabled and disabled with the Rear
ParkSense switch.
When the Front or Rear ParkSense switch is pushed
to disable the system, the instrument cluster display
will show a vehicle graphic of the Front or Rear Park-
Sense on/off state for two seconds. Refer to “Instrument
Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know Your Instrument
Panel” for further information. When the gear selector is moved to REVERSE and the Front
or Rear system is disabled, the instrument cluster display
will show a vehicle graphic with "OFF" on the corresponding
side. This vehicle graphic will be displayed for as long as the
vehicle is in REVERSE.
NOTE:
Arc alerts from the enabled ParkSense system, will interrupt
the five second messages, and the instrument cluster display
will show the vehicle graphic with the corresponding arcs
and "OFF" message.
The Front or Rear ParkSense switch LED will be on when
Front or Rear ParkSense is disabled or requires service. The
Front or Rear ParkSense switch LED will be off when the
Front or Rear system is enabled. If the Front or Rear Park
-
Sense switch is pushed, and the system requires service, the
Front or Rear ParkSense switch LED will blink momentarily,
and then the LED will be on.
Service The ParkSense Park Assist System
During vehicle start up, when the ParkSense System has
detected a faulted condition, the instrument cluster will
actuate a single chime, once per ignition cycle, and it will
display the "PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR
SENSORS", "PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE FRONT
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STARTING AND OPERATING 369
SENSORS", or the "PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE
REQUIRED" message for five seconds. When the gear
selector is moved to REVERSE and the system has detected a
faulted condition, the instrument cluster display will display
a "WIPE OFF" message on the corresponding blocked system
while the vehicle is in REVERSE. The system will continue to
provide arc alerts for the side that is functioning properly.
Refer to “Instrument Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
If "PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS" or
"PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE FRONT SENSORS"
appears in the instrument cluster display make sure the
outer surface and the underside of the rear fascia/bumper
and/or front fascia/bumper is clean and clear of snow, ice,
mud, dirt or other obstruction and then cycle the ignition. If
the message continues to appear see your authorized dealer.
NOTE:
Water from a car wash or road slush in freezing weather may
also cause sensors to become blocked.
If the "PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED"
message appears in the instrument cluster display, see your
authorized dealer.Cleaning The ParkSense System
Clean the ParkSense sensors with water, car wash soap and
a soft cloth. Do not use rough or hard cloths. Do not scratch
or poke the sensors. Otherwise, you could damage the
sensors.
ParkSense System Usage Precautions
NOTE:
• Ensure that the front and rear bumper are free of snow, ice,mud, dirt and debris to keep the ParkSense system oper -
ating properly.
• Jackhammers, large trucks, and other vibrations could affect the performance of ParkSense.

• When you turn Front or Rear ParkSense off, the instrument cluster display will show a vehicle graphic of the Front or
Rear ParkSense on/off state for two seconds. Furthermore,
once you turn Front or Rear ParkSense off, it remains off
until you turn it on again, even if you cycle the ignition key.

• When you move the gear selector to the REVERSE position and Front or Rear ParkSense is turned off, the instrument
cluster display will show a vehicle graphic with "OFF" in
the corresponding side. This vehicle graphic will be
displayed for as long as the vehicle is in REVERSE.
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370 STARTING AND OPERATING
• ParkSense, when on, will reduce the volume of the radiowhen it is sounding a tone.
• Clean the ParkSense sensors regularly, taking care not to scratch or damage them. The sensors must not be covered
with ice, snow, slush, mud, dirt or debris. Failure to do so
can result in the system not working properly. The Park -
Sense system might not detect an obstacle behind or in
front of the fascia/bumper, or it could provide a false indi -
cation that an obstacle is behind or in front of the fascia/
bumper.
• Use the ParkSense switch to turn the ParkSense system off if obstacles such as bicycle carriers, trailer hitches, etc. are
placed near the rear fascia/bumper. Failure to do so can
result in the system misinterpreting a close obstacle as a
sensor problem, causing the “PARKSENSE UNAVAIL -
ABLE SERVICE REQUIRED” message to be appear in the
instrument cluster display.
• On vehicles equipped with a tailgate, ParkSense should be disabled when the tailgate is in the lowered or open posi -
tion. A lowered tailgate could provide a false indication
that an obstacle is behind the vehicle and could also cause
a false braking event.WARNING!
• Drivers must be careful when backing up even when using ParkSense. Always check carefully behind your
vehicle, look behind you, and be sure to check for
pedestrians, animals, other vehicles, obstructions, and
blind spots before backing up. You are responsible for
safety and must continue to pay attention to your
surroundings. Failure to do so can result in serious
injury or death.
• Before using ParkSense, it is strongly recommended that the ball mount and hitch ball assembly is discon -
nected from the vehicle when the vehicle is not used for
towing. Failure to do so can result in injury or damage
to vehicles or obstacles because the hitch ball will be
much closer to the obstacle than the rear fascia when
the loudspeaker sounds the continuous tone. Also, the
sensors could detect the ball mount and hitch ball
assembly, depending on its size and shape, and give a
false indication that an obstacle is behind the vehicle,
and could cause false braking.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 429
Off-Road Driving Tips
Care should be taken when attempting to climb steep hills or
driving diagonally across a hill or slope. If natural obstacles
force you to travel diagonally up or down a hill, choose a
mild angle and keep as little side tilt as possible. Keep the
vehicle moving and make turns slowly and cautiously.
If you must back down a hill, back straight down using
REVERSE gear. Never back down in NEUTRAL or diago-
nally across the hill. When driving over sand, mud, and other soft terrain, shift to
low gear and drive steadily. Apply the accelerator slowly to
avoid spinning the wheels.
Do not reduce the tire pressures for this type of driving.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After going off-road, it is always
a good idea to check for damage. That way you can get any
problems taken care of right away and have your vehicle
ready when you need it.
• Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle. Check
tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and exhaust
system for damage.
• Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as required.
• Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and suspension.
Retighten them, if required, and torque to the values spec -
ified in the Service Manual.
• Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These things could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage to fuel
lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts.
• Driving through standing water may cause damage to
your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Always inspect
your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil, transmission, axle,
etc.) for signs of contamination (i.e., fluid that is milky
or foamy in appearance) after driving through standing
water. Do not continue to operate the vehicle if any
fluid appears contaminated, as this may result in
further damage. Such damage is not covered by the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
• Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can cause it to lock up and stall out, and cause serious internal
damage to the engine. Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. CAUTION!
(Continued)
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432 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
If equipped, the overhead console contains an ASSIST and a
SOS button.
NOTE:
• Your vehicle may be transmitting data as authorized bythe subscriber.
• The SOS and ASSIST buttons will only function if you are connected to an operable LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data)
network. Other Uconnect services will only be operable if
your SiriusXM Guardian™ service is active and connected
to an operable LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data) network. ASSIST Call
The ASSIST Button is used to automatically connect you to
any one of the following support centers:
• Roadside Assistance – If you get a flat tire, or need a tow,
just push the ASSIST button and you’ll be connected to
someone who can help. Roadside Assistance will know
what vehicle you’re driving and its location. Additional
fees may apply for roadside assistance.
• SiriusXM Guardian™ Customer Care – In-vehicle support for SiriusXM Guardian™.
• Vehicle Customer Care – Total support for all other vehicle issues.
SOS Call
1. Push the SOS Call button on the overhead console.
NOTE:
In case the SOS Call button is pushed in error, there will be a
ten second delay before the SOS Call system initiates a call to
a SOS operator. To cancel the SOS Call connection, push the
SOS call button on the overhead console or press the cancel -
lation button on the Device Screen. Termination of the SOS
Call will turn off the green LED light on the overhead
console.
WARNING!
ALWAYS obey traffic laws and pay attention to the road.
ALWAYS drive safely with your hands on the steering
wheel. You have full responsibility and assume all risks
related to the use of the features and applications in this
vehicle. Only use the features and applications when it is
safe to do so. Failure to do so may result in an accident
involving serious injury or death.
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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 433
(Continued)
2. The LED light located between the ASSIST and SOSbuttons on the overhead console will turn green once a
connection to a SOS operator has been made.
3. Once a connection between the vehicle and a SOS oper- ator is made, the SOS Call system may transmit the
following important vehicle information to a SOS oper -
ator:
• Indication that the occupant placed a SOS Call
• The vehicle brand
• The last known GPS coordinates of the vehicle
4. You should be able to speak with the SOS operator through the vehicle audio system to determine if addi -
tional help is needed. NOTE:
• Your vehicle may be transmitting data as authorized by
the subscriber.
• Once a connection is made between the vehicle’s SOS Call system and the SOS operator, the SOS operator may be
able to open a voice connection with the vehicle to deter -
mine if additional help is needed. Once the SOS operator
opens a voice connection with the vehicle’s SOS Call
system, the operator should be able to speak with you or
other vehicle occupants and hear sounds occurring in the
vehicle. The vehicle’s SOS Call system will attempt to
remain connected with the SOS operator until the SOS
operator terminates the connection.
5. The SOS operator may attempt to contact appropriate emergency responders and provide them with important
vehicle information and GPS coordinates.
WARNING!
ALWAYS obey traffic laws and pay attention to the road.
ALWAYS drive safely with your hands on the steering
wheel. You have full responsibility and assume all risks
related to the use of the features and applications in this
vehicle. Only use the features and applications when it is
safe to do so. Failure to do so may result in an accident
involving serious injury or death.
WARNING!
• If anyone in the vehicle could be in danger (e.g., fire or smoke is visible, dangerous road conditions or loca -
tion), do not wait for voice contact from an Emergency
Services Agent. All occupants should exit the vehicle
immediately and move to a safe location.
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434 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
(Continued)
SOS Call System Limitations
Vehicles sold in Mexico DO NOT have SOS Call system
capabilities.
SOS or other emergency line operators in Mexico may not
answer or respond to SOS system calls.
If the SOS Call system detects a malfunction, any of the
following may occur at the time the malfunction is detected,
and at the beginning of each ignition cycle:
• The overhead console light located between the ASSIST and SOS buttons will continuously be illuminated red.
• The Device Screen will display the following message: “Vehicle device requires service. Please contact your
dealer.”
• An In-Vehicle Audio message will state “Vehicle device requires service. Please contact your dealer.”
• Never place anything on or near the vehicle’s operable
network and GPS antennas. You could prevent oper -
able network and GPS signal reception, which can
prevent your vehicle from placing an emergency call.
An operable network and GPS signal reception is
required for the SOS Call system to function properly.
• The SOS Call system is embedded into the vehicle’s electrical system. Do not add aftermarket electrical
equipment to the vehicle’s electrical system. This may
prevent your vehicle from sending a signal to initiate
an emergency call. To avoid interference that can cause
the SOS Call system to fail, never add aftermarket
equipment (e.g., two-way mobile radio, CB radio, data
recorder, etc.) to your vehicle’s electrical system or
modify the antennas on your vehicle. IF YOUR
VEHICLE LOSES BATTERY POWER FOR ANY
REASON (INCLUDING DURING OR AFTER AN
ACCIDENT), THE UCONNECT FEATURES, APPS
AND SERVICES, AMONG OTHERS, WILL NOT
OPERATE.
• Modifications to any part of the SOS Call system could cause the air bag system to fail when you need it. You
could be injured if the air bag system is not there to
help protect you.WARNING! (Continued)
WARNING!
• Ignoring the overhead console light could mean you will not have SOS Call services. If the overhead console
light is illuminated, have your authorized dealer
service the SOS Call system immediately.
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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 435
Even if the SOS Call system is fully functional, factors
beyond FCA US LLC’s control may prevent or stop the SOS
Call system operation. These include, but are not limited to,
the following factors:
• Delayed accessories mode is active
• The ignition is in the OFF position
• The vehicle’s electrical systems are not intact
• The SOS Call system software and/or hardware aredamaged during a crash
• The vehicle battery loses power or becomes disconnected during a vehicle crash
• LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data) network and/or Global Positioning Satellite signals are unavailable or obstructed
• Equipment malfunction at the SOS operator facility • Operator error by the SOS operator
• LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data) network congestion
• Weather
• Buildings, structures, geographic terrain, or tunnels
NOTE:
• Your vehicle may be transmitting data as authorized by
the subscriber.
• Never place anything on or near the vehicle’s LTE (voice/ data) or 4G (data) and GPS antennas. You could prevent
LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data) and GPS signal reception,
which can prevent your vehicle from placing an emer -
gency call. An operable LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data)
network connection and a GPS signal is required for the
SOS Call system to function properly.
• The Occupant Restraint Control module turns on the
air bag Warning Light on the instrument panel if a
malfunction in any part of the system is detected. If the
Air Bag Warning Light is illuminated, have your autho -
rized dealer service the Occupant Restraint Control
system immediately.
WARNING! (Continued)
WARNING!
ALWAYS obey traffic laws and pay attention to the road.
ALWAYS drive safely with your hands on the steering
wheel. You have full responsibility and assume all risks
related to the use of the features and applications in this
vehicle. Only use the features and applications when it is
safe to do so. Failure to do so may result in an accident
involving serious injury or death.
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